Why a paper endorses

Sunday

Oct 28, 2012 at 12:01 AM

In the coming days, this newspaper will endorse three candidates for state office.

In the coming days, this newspaper will endorse three candidates for state office.

Newspaper endorsements may seem unnecessary to some in these heady days of spirited radio talk shows and highly paid pundits on cable television. Readers hardly need to turn to the Pocono Record's Opinion Page to take in strong viewpoints about issues and candidates.

But our news package regularly contains a mix of local, state and national news. We offer profiles of elected officials and candidates. Part of our job at election time is to inform our readers and encourage them to be responsible and engaged citizens, committed to taking part in our democratic system of government. Discussing political candidates and issues is part of that process.

The candidates we endorse reflect the Editorial Board's choice of individuals we feel have the best qualifications, experience or ideas to do the job well. We follow the contenders and the issues. We cannot interview every single one or pass judgment on races we were unable to follow closely. But for two state House districts and one state Senate race we provided both informational profiles and stories about how they matched up face to face. We held in-house "debates," complete with opening statements, timed answer periods, replies/rebuttals and closing statements. We will not endorse a candidate for president.

Our endorsements don't mean we disregard the opponent. People who run for public office generally have a sound sense of public mission. They are impelled to offer their ideas and their hard work, and they hope to be good elected officials. They work hard for your vote. Our job is to get past the sound bites and try to understand the candidates' overall philosophy and approach to problems and issues that face everyday people. We hope through the endorsement process to provide perspective that will help undecided voters reach an informed decision — even if that decision is not the same as the Editorial Board's.

Americans are fortunate indeed to live under a system that invites and fosters every citizen's participation.

Get informed and get out and vote, counting yourself a true citizen of government "of, by and for the people."

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